Leaders and stakeholders of the Niger Delta region have called on the President Bola Tinubu-led government to retain the Presidential Amnesty Programme to sustain peace in the oil-producing states of the federation.
The leaders who gathered under the aegis of the Pan Niger Delta Forum in Abuja stated this in a communique issued after a meeting on Monday with the South-South leader, Edwin Clark.
The meeting according to the communique provided an opportunity for a critical review of the workings of the PAP since its inception, and afforded participants, especially the representatives of beneficiaries, “the opportunity to express their thoughts on various existing challenges.
The communique read in part,
“We call on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to accord special attention to the PAP, which has remained a major booster to the critical oil and gas industry, from which the country earns most of its revenue.
“We note that the programme has carried out various training and reintegration programmes, and urge that this should be sustained with greater vigour and funding.
“We advise that PAP continues to be inclusive, to cover all properly accredited delegates and ensure that all ratified benefits are fully paid.
“We commend the Interim Administrator of the programme for the new initiatives to deepen socio-economic impact through the establishment of the PAP Cooperative Scheme and enjoin all beneficiaries to wholly embrace it.
“We call on the Federal Government to continue to improve the conditions for the implementation of the programme, as regards the welfare of beneficiaries, due to the sharply changed economic circumstances, which are currently prevailing in the country.”
While commending the interim administrator, Gen Barry Ndiomu (retd) for “Demonstrating high management and administrative capacity and competence since assuming office in September 2022, it also enjoined him to establish liaison offices in the Niger Delta states for the purpose of ensuring effective implementation of activities connected with the execution of the programme.”
The communique further read,
“We agree on the need to establish an effective single window liaison at the Headquarters of PAP for the purpose of resolving issues which are brought to the attention of the interim A administrator.
“We Implore youths of the Niger Delta to continue to embrace peace and work with the government to ensure effective implementation of the Programme and other related efforts aimed at addressing the socio-economic and developmental challenges of the region.”
The communique was signed by Secretary of the Board of Trustees of PANDEF, Godknows Igali, leader of the National Representative Council, Alfred Mulade, among others.